Short-fare situation

So a few weeks ago I was travelling from A to Manchester Piccadilly, it's been a since I took this route and after queuing to get a ticket the train arrived. I got on, waited for a ticket officer however no one had approached me throughout the entire journey. I got off and made my way to the ticket officer at MP, (note I was in a state of hurry because I was late for my first day of work experience whilst being incredibly tired) so when asked for my original location I stated B, the first station on route that came to mind. This was not the best suggestion considering they had people checking for tickets before being allowed onto the station at B.

So I was asked to explain.. Now back when I took this route for school I normally stated location C, at that point I openly admitted to wrongly stating the station. I then however said I was travelling from point C to MP (completely forgetting the fact I started from A). After saying C and continuing on after handing over my details and paying for the ticket from C to MP I realised my mistake.

At this point I've received the notice letter asking to explain my situation. I am going to apologise for my actions and I'm willing to pay a fine to avoid court. I am however I'm unsure whether to go along with the statement I've made that I was travelling from location C. This is quite a situation I've got myself into..

Reading though this all seems rather confusing, as to how you've managed to get it wrong twice, I'm not quite sure. It all seems rather convenient. Just be honest and face the consequences. There's little else you can do.

It always puzzles me as to how people can 'forget' where they started their journey, even if I've got a busy day ahead, I always seem to be able to remember where I've come from!

You tried to avoid paying the correct fare, you got caught. Simples really? Be honest and hope for one of Northern's fabby £80 'pay and we won't take it any further' penalties...

Only you know whether you honestly made a mistake or if you tried to get away with paying a lower fare.

If you realise the magnitude of your "mistake", you would be well advised to fully own up to it and hope the company is willing to settle the matter administratively. Only a court can issue a fine but any payment you make to the company to avoid going to court will be a settlement.

All I have to add is that I have boarded at stations without an opportunity to purchase a ticket numerous amounts of times and I have not "forgotten" which station I boarded at.

At this point I've received the notice letter asking to explain my situation. I am going to apologise for my actions and I'm willing to pay a fine to avoid court. I am however I'm unsure whether to go along with the statement I've made that I was travelling from location C. This is quite a situation I've got myself into..

What are your thoughts?

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It might be a little easier to help you if we knew the actual stations involved.

You wouldn't have happened to ask for a fare from Stockport or Oxford Road/Deansgate/Salford would you, having travelled from further afield? I might come across as incredibly sceptical but believe me, the staff in Northern's prosecutions office will have heard every excuse under the sun hundreds of times over, including "I was tired/in a rush/running late." None of those three states can logically cause someone to ask for the wrong ticket twice.

Right I didn't realise the guidelines apologies, so I travelled originally from Knutsford to Manchester Piccadilly, I then stated Stockport then I again made the mistake of saying Hale. So essentially I've made a false statement since I've purchased a ticket for travelling from Hale to MP.

I'm thinking my course of action should be to write a letter of apology state I've made a mistake and hopefully deal with a fine.

Right I didn't realise the guidelines apologies, so I travelled originally from Knutsford to Manchester Piccadilly, I then stated Stockport then I again made the mistake of saying Hale. So essentially I've made a false statement since I've purchased a ticket for travelling from Hale to MP.

I'm thinking my course of action should be to write a letter of apology state I've made a mistake and hopefully deal with a fine.

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Northern will view this as a clear-cut case of short faring, and might even have reason to believe you came from further out (try, try, third time lucky) as you stated stations from which the fare was lower.

If you get a "Fixed Penalty Notice" or request for administrative payment, or out of court settlement or something else similarly worded, pay it as soon as possible. Northern are less likely than some other companies to prosecute offenders but the possibility is still there for them to take you to court.